Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord
Take not Thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me
I was recently reminded of this simple song that comes from Psalm 51. I used to sing it back in youth group… more years ago than I would like to admit! The line that sticks out to me is “restore unto me the joy of my salvation.”
As I’m entering month 7, I will admit I find myself less joyful than I was at the beginning of the race. The newness and excitement is gone and what is left is reality. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss the comforts of home, I miss chick-fil-a… I’m exhausted from moving all the time, I want to be alone for more than the 5mins it takes to take a shower, and I want to not wear the same clothes I have worn over and over again for the last 7months!!!
So how do I restore the joy of my salvation??? I guess it stars with going back to that day. The day when it all made sense and for the first time I experienced God’s unconditional love for me. When I said to my AWANA leader Barb and my mom I am ready to make this decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and savior!! When I prayed those words and experienced joy and peace like never before! Why was that joy different? Because is isn’t human joy, it isn’t conditional, it isn’t fleeting, and it isn’t a feeling! How quickly we can forget that experience, the realization that we are forgiven, redeemed, freed for all eternity. That fact alone should provide us with enough joy for a lifetime!!
So how do I get that back? Well considering this psalm is a cry of David to the Lord, that’s probably a good place to start! Joy comes from God, happiness can be found on earth but joy is a fruit of the spirit Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Jesus even says in John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. He wants our joy to be complete and he wants us to rely on Him to be the one to do it.
So today I cry out, “Jesus thank you for joy, thank you for salvation, thank you for being my God and father! Lord restore unto me the joy of my salvation. Fill me with joy till my cup overflows. Let me be an example of joy to all I interact with. Let my joy be what helps draw people to you. Don’t let me be clouded by my circumstances but let your joy be my strength!! May the weeping last just for the night and the joy come in the morning!”
I don’t know where you are at as you read this but my prayer is this, “Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all JOY and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
